CHANDIGARH: The power tariff is expected to rise in Punajb to fill cumulative revenue gap of Rs.123.44 crores for the year 2007-08 even as Punjab State Electricity Board(PSEB) is under pressure from Punjab government to delay the hike.

It is learnt on Friday that the Punjab State electricity regulatory commission (PSERC) has taken suo motu determination in respect of Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) & Power Tariff for the year 2007-08 of Punjab State Electricity Board (PSRB). 

PSERC has reportedly asked all the consumers to file their objections and comments to the proposed tariff increase exercise by the Commission within 21 days. 

Since PSEB has not filed the ARR and Tariff Application for the year 2007-08 by the due date as per Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms & Conditions for Determination of Tariff) Regulations, 2005 i.e. by November 30, 2006. 

The Commission has rejected the petition filed by the Board for grant of extension up to May 31, 2007 and ordered for suo-motu determination of ARR & tariff for the year 2007-08. 

The Commission has worked out cumulative revenue gap of Rs.123.44 crores for the year 2007-08, on the basis of data/information supplied by the Board for the years 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08. The Commission tentatively proposes to capture this revenue gap through tariff increase. 

The sources said that the Commission has proposed the 6 paisa increase in domestic power sector in lower limit and 10 paisa in upper limit. 

The commission also proposed Rs. 220/BHP in Agriculture pump sets of Without Govt. subsidy where as the exiting tariff is 214.

The commission has also proposed to increase the per kilowatt load supply to Golden Temple beyond 2000 units from 301 to 309, 

The commission has also reportedly proposed to increase the tariff in various categories from 3 to 5 percent.